What is the NCLEX? This is a typical question among a lot of individuals especially those who are about to embark on a nursing career. If you’re one of those who need to know what these letters mean, this post will help you have a better understanding of it and what impact it will have on future nurses.
The NCLEX is an acronym for National Council Licensure Examination which is the qualifying test for nurses who want to be certified as a competent registered nurse. For those who have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), taking the NCLEX-RN and successfully hurdling it, is the last challenge they would have to overcome to become a registered nurse or RN. At the same time, graduates of a Licensed Practical Nursing degree or LPN will also need to take the NCLEX-PN for a practical nurse license.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCBSN) is the body that set the parameters for NCLEX qualification. In order to be eligible to sit for the exam, the NCBSN has come up with a list of requirements that the student would need to accomplish. These include paying a registration fee, and submitting one’s official transcript of records as well as fingerprint scans. Academic requirements may also be asked of the graduates, although almost certainly, these would have been part already of the coursework while they are still in nursing school.
Nursing schools which are known for their high standards make sure that their graduates are fully equipped with the right combination of theoretical knowledge and technical skills that will prepare them for the responsibilities of a nursing career. Of course, nothing can be learned overnight and the know-how they eventually acquire is a result of years of training. So although the weeks prior to the NCLEX may be a bit stressful for nursing graduates, those who have been diligent in their studies should be more confident in facing the licensure test.
The NCLEX-RN test itself has 265 questions. Students can expect to find among the test questions some items on nursing general knowledge and practical or situational questions too. The test has a time limit of six hours. Once the examinee reaches 75 correct answers, the test is finished and he or she would have passed the NCLEX already. By reaching that minimum number, the student is deemed to have acquired the required skills and knowledge to be admitted into the nursing profession.
Aspiring nurses need wonder no more what is the NCLEX as we now know that is the final hurdle to getting a professional nursing license.
Now that you’ve learned what is the NCLEX, it is time for you to choose the nursing school program that can help you achieve your nursing degree. Visit us to know more about nursing degrees and to find the best nursing schools in your area.